Feyenoord’s Winter Transfers Insufficient, Says Mounir Boualin

Feyenoord brought in three new players during the winter transfer window; however, this has been deemed insufficient by Mounir Boualin in the Transfermind podcast, hosted by SoccerNews. The season appears to be fading away under the management of Robin van Persie, leaving fans to wonder if it is time for the club icon to step down.

With Feyenoord now out of European competition and eliminated from the KNVB Cup, their hopes for the domestic championship were dashed following a 3-0 defeat to PSV. Consequently, securing a second-place finish in the Eredivisie is currently their most realistic goal. In pursuit of this, the club signed Jeremiah St. Juste, Mats Deijl, and Steven Benda. Boualin expressed his disappointment, stating that these additions are not enough for a serious challenge for Champions League qualification. “I did not expect these three players to join Feyenoord,” he remarked.

The club has also seen several players depart, including Jan Plug, despite their need for an additional central defender. Boualin noted, “I wouldn’t have made that decision. The defensive line is already thin. While it’s beneficial for Plug to have weekly playing time at FC Dordrecht, Feyenoord should have retained him. If another center-back were to get injured, the team would be in a precarious position.”

Additionally, Robin van Persie remains the head coach in Rotterdam-Zuid, despite the team’s ongoing decline. Boualin expressed skepticism about reversing the current trajectory: “This situation has been deteriorating for some time. I don’t see it turning around. There are individuals within the club who want the ‘Robin van Persie project’ to succeed at all costs, which appears to stem from self-interest. I doubt things will improve. At some point, one must be brave enough to remove the bandage.”